7 Energy Efficient Home Improvements That Are Totally Worth the Money

Shocked at your electric bill? Ever wondered if there were ways to save a few dollars more each month?

With the rising costs of bills and the alarming rate of energy loss in an average American household, being more conscious of your choices at home can help you save big on money and energy.

We already know about turning off the lights when not in use, but there are much more you can do. Want to start remodeling your home to be more energy-efficient? Keep on reading and we’ll show what changes you can make right now.

Here are the 7 best energy-efficient home improvements you can do right now.

1. Consider Getting Efficient Kitchen Appliances

Kitchen appliances are some of the biggest hogs of electricity at home, especially the older models. If you’re still using an oven or another machine from over 10 years ago, you may benefit from getting new models.

Why would you need to replace them if they’re still working? Because by modern standards, these models aren’t as efficient and less so if they’re 15 to 20 years old.

For improved energy efficiency, you may also consider replacing your air-conditioning system. Check if your furnace and broiler are still good to go, too. The costs of replacing these things would be high, but the money and energy you save by doing so make it worth it.

2. Replace Small Appliances with More Efficient Models

If replacing your appliances isn’t possible right now, consider replacing small items instead. Smaller appliances still have a huge effect on your home energy efficiency.

Some examples of small appliances with energy-efficient versions are hair dryers and lamps. A hairdryer, for example, can use a motor designed to consume less energy. At the same time, it can dry hair fast.

Even a bathroom scale has an efficient version, which has an LCD display that turns off when you’re not using it. You can also buy a showerhead that uses less water but still has enough pressure for a consistent flow.

3. Get a Smart Thermostat

The thermostat may be responsible for half of your bills. This is more than what your kitchen appliances control, which is why you should focus on getting a smart thermostat first.

Programmable thermostats can save you 10% of your heating and cooling bills if you use them right. It enables you to achieve the optimal temperature while saving on costs. You can also program it to tone down on the energy bill when no one’s at home or when everyone’s asleep.

You can even let it be once you’ve programmed it, making sure that the energy you’re spending is minimal at all times.

4. Use Solar-Powered Outdoor Lights

Your patio or garden may not be an area you’d think about first when you start being energy-efficient.

However, these are great areas for solar installation. Since these areas are under the sunlight most of the time, it’s foolish to not take advantage of that.

Solar-powered outdoor lights can soak up solar power in the mornings, and at night, they’ll be able to light up your path. You can enjoy your garden at night without you worrying about the energy consumption.

There are also solar-powered models of security lights for your wall parameter.

5. Improve Your Indoor Lighting

While replacing the outdoor lighting with the solar-powered variety is something we recommend you do sooner, paying attention to the indoor lighting matters more. Although you can’t bring the energy consumption down to almost zero like in the outdoors, you can still save on your energy bills by opting for LED bulbs and lights indoors.

To improve home energy efficiency, replace the lighting in all your rooms with LED bulbs.

Night lights and desk lamps also have LED models, as well as the under-cabinet lights. Whichever lighting you have in your home, there’s a LED model for that.

Although replacing them all with LED helps, allowing in more natural light can have a big impact. Install skylights or larger windows. This way, you not only save on the lighting costs but on the thermostat costs as well since it adds some warmth during the winter months.

6. Insulate and Seal Your Home

If it has been a while after you’ve last checked the insulation of your home, check it now.

From the roof to the foundation, your house should have proper insulation to prevent energy loss. We recommend hiring a professional to check since you might not even know your home is under-insulated.

The holes in your home are also responsible for some energy loss. Letting in cold air can drive up your bills in the winter, so it’s best to seal them for an energy-efficient home. Make sure to patch the holes in the ducts as well, which can allow cold or warm air to escape.

7. Pay Attention to Your Windows and Doors

Some of the biggest culprits of energy loss are the windows and doors. The spaces around them can leak air, but you can solve this by using a sealant. However, sealing them may not be enough in some cases.

If you have the money, install more energy-efficient windows and doors instead. Windows with wooden frames, for instance, are better at keeping in the warm or cold air. This material is also great for doors, while hollow metal doors aren’t good at keeping the air in or out.

Storm windows are a great alternative if you don’t have the means for a full-blown window replacement project. They’re less inexpensive and may be more convenient to install.

The Best Energy Efficient Home Improvements

These home improvements will cost you money, but they will pay themselves over time. You’ll even see a huge drop in your energy bills right away.

Improving and replacing your current appliances are great energy efficient home improvements. However, you can take it further by using solar panels instead. To learn more about having an efficient solar-powered home, contact us now.